Today I have Rusty Fischer on with a guest post and giveaway of Zombies Don’t Cry. I really enjoyed this book and you should check out my review here. Rusty has a fantastic writing style that this guest post gives you a little hint to. Make sure you read to the bottom where you’ll find the giveaway!

Vampires Versus Zombies: Can’t We All Just Get Along?

A Guest Post by Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

My author copies of Zombies Don’t Cry came to my house last week; three dozen big, black, 300-page beauties I just can’t seem to keep my hands on. It’s funny to watch the faces of my family, friends and even my neighbors as they flip through the book I’ve been working on for, oh, the last two years!

They see “zombies” on the front cover and kind of wink at each other knowingly and pat my head and say things like, “Who knows? They could be the next big thing!”

Or, “You crazy rascal, you! What will you think of next?”

Then they inevitably ask, “What is next, by the way?”

I quickly mention my upcoming YA novel, Vamplayers, and their eyes light up. “Now THAT sounds awesome!” they say, suddenly in a world much more familiar and safe than… zombies.

I’m not going so far as to say there are zombie people and vampire people, but there kind of are zombie people and vampire people, if you know what I mean!

To me, they’re kind of twin sides of the same coin. The zombies I write about are functional, emotional, physical, real people; they don’t shuffle around or mumble or yank brains out of random strangers.

They have rules and laws and morals; they go to school and have to dress to cover up their unhealthy pallor and avoid touching people with their cold, dead skin and aren’t supposed to date each other and that gets all complicated.

Grave dirt is their garlic; copper is their silver; electricity is their stake through the heart. So to me, there are a lot of similarities between zombies and vampires. But zombies just… feel… different, you know?

They have a different energy than vampires. (I can’t believe I’m actually writing this!) But they do; vampires are hot, zombies are cool. And I don’t just mean that in a “pretty boy,” Team Edward way, but in a personality way.

My vampires move more quickly than my zombies, they’re more fluid and nuanced and fast. My zombies are stiff but functional, slow but methodical, blunt but powerful. It’s a little like the rabbit versus the hare; Jason Bourne versus the Terminator. In short, each genre has its own pros and cons; and also its own personality and playfulness.

I enjoy writing about zombies because there’s so little mythology; it’s kind of a “blank slate” where you can still pretty much write your own ticket because most folks are still focusing on the zombie as bad guy and not taking great pains to make him – or, in my case, her – a main character.

Vampires are fun for the opposite reason: there’s so MUCH mythology, you kind of have to play by at least some of the rules or folks really freak out. The “fun” part comes in getting original and imaginative and even playful inside those particular creative guardrails.

I dunno, I guess my point is this: why hate on either genre? There’s so much going on in both, from a relative YA zombie explosion where everything is new and fresh and original to a kind of resurgence of the vampire genre where readers either flock to the old and familiar or embrace the quirky, fun or realistic side.

I love writing, and reading, both zombies and vampires. It’s like alternating cardio with resistance training; one day you do weights to build your muscles, the other you hit the track to work your heart and lungs.

I’m not quite as purposeful about what I’m writing today versus tomorrow. I get in a zombie phase where I’ll really just be enjoying that world for a few books or so, then I’ll step away and it’s like the zombie tank is empty and as much as I try I just can’t walk through another fictional graveyard or find another fresh brain recipe.

So I’ll take a week or so off and start writing about fangs and capes and stakes and blood again; it’s all good. I’m the same way in my reading; you probably are, too.

The good news is it’s all YA; the better news is, well, it’s getting better all the time. Every week I’m seeing new releases by new authors that literally knock my block off! So if you’re a zombie person, lighten up and let the vampire in.

And if you’re a vampire person, well, haven’t you been king of the mountain long enough?!?!

Yours in YA,

Rusty

About the author: Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry: A Living Dead Love Story, due out from Medallion Press in April 2011. Visit his blog, www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com, for news, reviews, cover leaks, writing and publishing advice, book excerpts and more! And look for his next book, Vamplayers, due out from Medallion next year!

The Giveaway:

Rusty is giving away two copies of Zombies Don’t Cry. One is the paperback version, and one is the e-book version. The paperback is open to US addresses only. The e-book version is open to international folks only.

You must be 13 years of age or older.

You must enter by 5/5/2011

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling us what your favorite is. Do you prefer zombies over vampires? Maybe the other way around? Or maybe you haven’t read a zombie book yet (this is a great place to start!)? Let us know!

I’m more into vampires because I haven’t read any zombie books yet so who knows I could change sides. I don’t think so but who knows what the future holds. Zombies Don’t Cry could be the breakthrough for me.

I’m International. I did prefer Vampires, but…having said that I enjoyed Hollowland by Amanda Hocking..where all zombies were bad. I’m looking forward to read that there are good and bad Zombies. I am slowly being converted.

I have yet to read a zombie book, but always willing to check it out. I’ve been reading more vampire stories lately. I mean at least there can be a potential romance where as a zombie….it’s gross to even think about.lol

Hi there! I’m more a zombie movie lover than a zombie book lover. I do have some zombie books on my kindle, but I haven’t read them yet. I do read more about vampires. Sometimes I prefer the romance, sometimes I want the gritty horror of traditional vamps. I have to get the zombie books farther up my TBR pile, cuz I do like me some zombies. (my son LOVES zombies!) I’m in the USAArtesia at comcast dot net Thanks!!

Great post, Rusty! I’ve never really found myself lumped into a vampire or zombie category. In fact, I enjoy reading about both, but, right now, I’m leaning towards zombies. Vampire books are everywhere and it’s really difficult to find out that stands out so far from the rest. I don’t think the same can be said about zombies books though.

There are plenty of YA zombie books, but they’re all different, for the reasons you stated. There isn’t really a set mythos when it comes to zombies, so the subject is free to manipulate and I’m really enjoying the different takes on it.

Thanks for the giveaway!I’m in the US.wickedawesomebooks(at)hotmail(dot)com

I have not exactly read “zombie” books. I am not the biggest vamp fan, fallen angels having been hitting this special little interest of mine though. I would love to give the zombies a chance though. I am a U.S. resident and you can reach me a simplykrista1991@yahoo.com

WoW!I have never read a zombie book before,but it looks like that’s the perfect place for me!I have never thought of a zombie book-but it totally seems my type!Would love to win.Internationallaura_rbd4ever@yahoo.com

I must say, I like vampires better. There’s just something about drinking blood that makes me happy… I haven’t read a lot of zombie books (though I do think that the zombie apocalypse will be upon us soon) and really, the only zombies I’ve seen (and loved) are the ones from Plants vs. Zombies. They’re adorable.

I love zombie/necromantic books. I love reading along the lines of monsters and flesh eating zombies, because zombies add suspense and a thrill into books other than vampires. I read countless vampire novellas and stories to say that I’m leering towards zombies at the momentum.

Hm, the only zombie book I’ve read is Forest of Hands and Teeth, and the zombies weren’t very nice in that one. I guess I like vampires more, but I think zombies are cooler. Well that didn’t make any sense, but.. yeah.

Hmmm, I’ve actually never read a Zombie book. I’ve got The Forests of Hands and Teeth sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read and looking all sad and lonely, so I guess when I read that it’ll be my first.I’ve seen plenty of movies though–hello, Resident Evil and Dawn of the Dead anyone? In those the zombies are always hideous and evil–nothing like the sound of the ones in this book. Therefore I guess I’d have to say vampires, just cos I have no experience with Zombies in books….yet =D

I’m sort of on the fence about who I like more. Actually, I guess I feel like “Why don’t we all just get along?” I see the good and bad in both so I can’t really pick one over the other. Although I can say that I haven’t read any really good zombie books. There are so many vampire books that you’re bound to like one of them but you don’t have the luxury with zombies. I hope this book helps redeem zombies because it’s certainly got my hopes up now! =D

I’ve a bad tought about zombie in my mind.. I never read a bok about zombie, but I’ve watched some movie about zombie, and they really frightening.. Gezz!! I prefer vampires, hey like Carlisle’s families in Twilight Saga hahahahaha (maybe you change my mind about zombie)

Well… it depends. : ) I like zombies over vampires, unless they’re scary zombies… how do you stop a zombie? Even if you stake it (poof, bye-bye vampire!), it still wants your brain! The only thing I can think of is de-limbing the poor thing, but that just seems awful! Soo… funny zombies, yes please! Scary zombies = nightmares! Ack! (But I read them anyway… haha!) : ) Thanks for the giveaway!ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

I love both vampires and zombies. Zombies are just awesome, but at the same time, vampires kick butt. Must a girl choose? I would rather have a relationship or read about a relationship with a vampire as how does the even work?